• Great opportunity to work for a global company at the forefront of mining
• Excellent work culture where people are valued and respected
• Develop your potential at our operations in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and metals group that focuses on finding, mining, processing and marketing the earth’s mineral resources.
We have been in business for more than 140 years and remain focused on the long term. We’re committed to sustainable and innovative ways to do business, deliver results and build a great work environment. It’s how we grow – it’s how you grow.

We are a diverse team of talented, enthusiastic individuals who foster a culture of inclusion. No matter how they may differ, our people share one thing in common. It’s a belief that work is more rewarding when we are accepted and valued for our differences, not judged by them. We all have something to contribute, and it’s this contribution that makes for a great organisation and fulfilling career.

The opportunity

We are looking for a Modelling Engineer to support the development of new technologies. As part of our research laboratory on manufacturing (LRF), the modelling team is at the heart of the electrolysis development activity for Group Plants and Technology Sales. The modelling team is composed of 4 engineers within a global team with a centre in Canada. Its mission is to design technical solutions that improve the performance of industrial cells — a world leading
technology in the Aluminium industry (AP18, AP30, AP50), and to support the development of innovative technologies. The design of these cells relies on high-level modelling tools developed through partnerships with world-class universities.

Rio Tinto is a global leader in aluminium, one of the world’s most widely used metals. Active in the sector for more than 110 years, we operate large-scale, high-quality bauxite mines and alumina refineries; alongside the world’s most modern and competitive aluminium smelters portfolio. Our industry leadership includes our benchmark smelting technology and enviable hydropower position, key strengths in today’s carbon-constrained world.

As part of the Technology and Project Development Group, the LRF develops the word-leading electrolysis technology for aluminium. It is located at Saint Jean de Maurienne in French Savoie region, less than an hour drive from Chambéry and Grenoble.

What the job entails

To support the development of new technologies, the Modelling Engineer MHD/CFD (Magneto Hydro Dynamic / Computational Fluid Dynamic) will be in
charge of developing modelling tools and producing and coordinating studies in this field. The incumbent will develop globally a network of external partners (Universities, companies specialised in MHD/CFD).

Reporting to the Modelling Manager, you will be:

• Developing or coordinating the development of MHD/CFD modelling tools
• Producing or piloting the delivery of technical studies aiming at improving or developing existing or new processes
• Participating actively in a network of global partners in the field of MHD/CFD
• Supporting all tests led by our R&D teams in the field
• Analysing client requests, understanding their needs and establishing a project management strategy with clients
• Managing priorities (the influence of internal and external clients with different objectives can impact the R&D programme and delay the implementation of solutions)
• Proposing innovative ideas and technical expertise, including identifying ways to capture and use this expertise
• Applying new methods to produce new ideas
• Interacting constantly with modelling team members (LRF and CRDA (Canada), the Senior Technology Advisor and the Electrolysis Programme Director
• Maintaining robust relationships with the managers of Technology Sales and internal clients
• Collaborating with other departments of LRF (especially engineering) and different project managers
• Collaborating with teams responsible for the development of cells (technological platform)
• Collaborating with external partners (vendors and world-class universities)

What you will need for this role

To succeed in this role, you will have:

• Engineering degree (Master or Ph.D.)
• 5 to 10 years of modelling experience ideally in MHD/CFD
• Advanced knowledge of digital modelling codes ( thermal transfer, mechanics of fluids, magneto-hydrodynamic)
• Analytical skills
• Good communication skills in a multicultural and international environment
• Disciplined and autonomous
• French and English proficiency

After having deepened his/her modelling experience, the incumbent will be able to progress towards more operational roles in R&D or plant (plant tests, method engineer…) in the longer term.

Please note, in order to be successfully considered for this role you must complete all pre-screening questions.

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Ph.D. FELLOWSHIP ON THE NON-LINEAR STATES OF CONVECTION IN THE EARTH CORE AT COVENTRY UNIVERSITY (UK)
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(from Alban Potherat, UK )

LEVERHULME TRUST Ph.D. FELLOWSHIP ON THE NON-LINEAR STATES OF CONVECTION IN THE EARTH CORE AT COVENTRY UNIVERSITY (UK)

A Ph.D. position in theoretical fluid mechanics is offered at Coventry University (UK). The project concerns convection under a magnetic field in the so called “tangent cylinder” region of the Earth’s core. Much of the mystery surrounding the Earth’s dynamics (its magnetic field, plate tecnonics) lies in the nature of the convective patterns within the Earth’s liquid core, and in particular in the region called the “Tangent Cylinder”. What are the possible convective states under the combined influence of the Earth’s rotation and magnetic field, and how erratic are they? This thesis is part of a theoretical and experimental research
program funded by the prestigious Levehulme Trust (http://www.leverhulme.ac.uk), that aims at answering these questions. The purpose of this thesis is to theoretically predict the possible nonlinear convective states for the first time. We will then evaluate which of these states are mostly likely to underpin the Earth’s core convection.
The student will conduct the theoretical and numerical analysis of the problem under the joint supervision of Prof. Alban Pothérat (http://users.complexity-coventry.org/~potherat/index.html) and Dr Chris Pringle. The study will seek the possible structure of convection by means of advanced stability theory and branch tracking method, to unveil the possible states. In the frame of the research program, the PhD work will be conducted in collaboration with an experimental study that will seek to reproduce and visualise these non-linear states in an experimental model of the Earth Core.

Successful candidates are expected to hold or be on course for a MSc or equivalent, in fluid mechanics or a related discipline (Physics/Mathematics), and to have demonstrated excellent abilities in mathematics and programming. Applicants having validated the theoretical part of their Masters and needing an internship to validate their Masters degree are encouraged to apply too. The student will receive a net, tax-free bursary of £15k per annum.

The successful candidate will be part the vibrant team of internationally recognised academics and PhD students forming the fluid dynamics group within the Applied Mathematics Research Centre, whose work has been ranked at 87% world-class at the UK’ latest Research Excellence Framework in 2014. This unit is part of the Flow Measurement and Fluid Mechanics Research Centre, specialises in theoretical and experimental fluid mechanics. It is especially renowned for its work on magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), turbulence, stability and geophysical flows,. The group closely collaborates with partner groups in world-leading institutions in Australia, China, France, Germany and the UK.

Applications are invited to apply for a PhD studentship in theoretical fluid mechanics, as part of the Applied Mathematics Research Centre (http://complexity-coventry.org/home/) at Coventry University. This PhD is to develop mathematical models for quasi-two dimensional flows in collaboration with Monash University in Melbourne, Australia (http://sheardlab.org).

Flow patterns observed in planetary atmospheres such as the hexagonal structures at Saturn’s north poles, or large patterns in the Earth’s atmosphere are so much wider (>1000 km) than they are thick (a few km) that they are almost two-dimensional (2D) objects. Even though their fine structure involves complex three-dimensional phenomena, their evolution within the global structure of the atmosphere can be expected to be reasonably well represented by 2D equations of motion. Simulating these events with 2D equation requires so much less computational power than the full 3D equations that they open such
possibilities as simulating entire planetary atmospheres in a single computation, or studying the very long-term evolution of these structures. Yet, to be physically accurate, these 2D equations still need to account for some of the 3D effects due to planetary rotation and curvature, ground friction, and other phenomena such as the transfer of heat to and within the atmosphere. The purpose of the project is to mathematically derive such 2D models from the full 3D equations and, by means of numerical simulations and stability analsysis, understand the mechanisms driving large atmospheric patterns, possibly at the scale of the entire planet. The 2D models will also be used to simulate laboratory-scale experiments where these mechanisms could be reproduced and where the
models themselves could be validated.

Successful candidates are expected to hold or be on course for a MSc or equivalent, with a grade of 70% or above, in fluid mechanics or a related discipline (Physics/ Engineering/ Mathematics), and to have demonstrated excellent abilities in mathematics and programming. Applicants having validated the theoretical part of their Masters and needing an internship to validate their Masters degree are encouraged to apply too. The student will receive a tax-free bursary of £15k per annum.

The successful candidate will be part the vibrant team of internationally recognised academics and PhD students forming the fluid dynamics group within the Applied Mathematics Research Centre, whose worked has been ranked at 87% world-class at the UK Research Excellence Framework in 2014. AMRC is especially renowned for its work on magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), turbulence, stability and geophysical flows. The group closely collaborates with partner groups in worldleading institutions in Australia, China, France, Germany and the UK. This specific project is part of a collaborative program between Coventry and Monash Universities funded by the British Royal Society, and offers the student an opportunity to travel and work in Melbourne during their PhD.

Informal enquiries are welcome: please forward a CV and academic records to Prof. Alban Pothérat (Coventry University, alban.potherat@coventry.ac.uk) or Dr. Greg Sheard, Monash University (greg.sheard@monash.edu.au). The position will be open until a suitable candidate is found.